GPS Dog Tracker

Training the Versatile Hunting Dog

by: Chuck Johnson

Training the Versatile Hunting Dog shows you how to develop a great hunting dog with Chuck's new approach. This approach emphasizes letting your young dog first develop his natural abilities: use of nose, desire, cooperation, search, pointing, and tracking. Then, after his first season, Chuck shows you how to put the controls on your dog with chapters on the trained retrieve and whoa training. The versatile breeds also love water, and there are detailed chapters showing you how to train your dog to be an outstanding water retriever. Chuck also covers how to pick a pup, the importance of early socialization, introducing your pup to gunfire and to birds. This is a revolutionary book written for the popular versatile hunting breeds: German shorthair, wirehair, griffon, Vizsla, and Weimaraner among others. Each instructive chapter has a detailed explanation of the training techniques, along with numerous illustrative photos. There are also detailed plans for building a quail call-back pen, a pigeon pen, and a dog kennel along with a list of dog training suppliers and various hunting dog organizations.

.. this book is very concise and has thorough information on the versatiliy available to today's gun dog owner. extremely useful for the beginner but i'm sure an experienced hunter/dog owner will enjoy it too! -- M. Toon, Cunningham, KY, USA

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Game Dog: The Hunter's Retriever for Upland Birds and Waterfowl - A Concise New Training Method

by: Richard A. Wolters

This clear, step-by-step guide shows how to develop any of the popular retriever breeds from a seven-week-old pup into a finished hunting companion. This updated edition includes the use of new training equipment and new findings about a dog's mental development.

No lab owner should be without it!
My husband and I purchased this book 5 years ago when we bought our first Labrador pup. We were immediately taken by the methods used by Mr. Wolters - kindness and fun being of the utmost importance when training a retriever. Following the instructions to the letter, we had great success - first duck retrieved to hand at 12 weeks, no problems whatsoever with hardmouthing or breaking at the shot. What we now have is a bird hunting machine that sleeps on our bed; a dog that hunts quail and chukar as well as he does ducks and geese; a dog that responds equally well to voice, hand and whistle commands (all important in varying hunting conditions). While we never had any interest in hunt trials (we wanted a working dog and pet), we have received scores of complements over the years, with most people commenting that this is the best dog they've ever hunted over. We're hitting our prime in the 5th hunting season, and will use this book once again when we start a new pup this winter.

Really - buy this book (Water Dog is also a good additon to your library). You will have a great blueprint for both a great hunter and a good friend! -- Mrs. Woogie, Boise, Idaho USA

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Amazon Price: $17.13 (as of 12/05/2009)

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The Ultimate Guide to Bird Dog Training: A Realistic Approach to Training Close-Working Gun Dogs for Tight Cover Conditions

by: Jerome B. Robinson

"Follow Jerry Robinson and your path to glorious and golden upland gunning over a great dog will become clear. Here, in one book, you will find everything you need to save time, money, and aggravation in developing the hunting companion of a lifetime." --Lamar Underwood, former editor-in-chief, Sports Afield and Outdoor Life

Close-Hunting Bird Dogs
The theme couldn't be clearer: The author states "the average field-trial dog is not the kind of shooting dog today's bird hunter is looking for. We don't hunt on horseback, we hunt on our feet ... we want dogs that stay with us ... but that doesn't mean we want dogs that just potter about underfoot ... a good close-hunting gun dog has all the style and class of a good field-trial dog ... but he operates on a shorter string"

And rest of the book is well organized and presented in a highly useful manner which reflects the years of experience of a gun-dog editor who has sought opinions of outstanding trainers. The coins I invested in this book were well spent. My only question is simply this : what took me so long to find this book! -- Harold H Pierce, Augusta, Georgia, United States

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Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/05/2009)

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Dog Training: Retrievers and Pointing Dogs (The Complete Hunter)

by: Jason Smith

There is nothing more pleasing to an avid bird hunter than to watch a well-trained sporting dog do what it was bred to do: hunt. Likewise, there is nothing more pleasing to a pet owner than to watch their well-trained family dog interact in a calm and controlled manner with family and friends.

With step-by-step instructions and detailed photographs and illustrations, this book provides proven information for achieving the best of both those worlds. Everything is discussed from choosing a sporting breed (retriever or pointer), to basic family-friendly obedience commands, to introducing the dog to the sound of a gun, competing in field trials and hunt tests, using an electronic collar, and keeping your sporting dog happy and healthy. It even covers how the nation's top trainers troubleshoot some of the more common problems faced in the field.

The author, Jason Smith is the editor of Just Labs magazine and the managing editor of The Retriever Journal and The Pointing Dog Journal. He has written 5 books and more than 100 articles on training hunting dogs. He holds a bachelors degree from Lake Superior University and a masters degree from South Dakota State University in wildlife sciences and management. Jason lives in Michigan with his wife, son, and two dogs an English setter and a Labrador retriever.

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Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 12/05/2009)

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How to Help Gun Dogs Train Themselves, Taking Advantage of Early Condtioned Learning

by: Joan Bailey

Gun dog editor of American Hunter, Bill McClure, said: Bailey's book is different...With enthusiasm, the author emphasizes 'use common sense, consistency, and a small dose of formal training, and you've got yourself a fine hunting dog.' that's what the book is about and believe me, it's a good one...I would recommend it to anyone about to start a young pup. Buy it before he comes home and memorize the first seven chapters. Then the next six. --American Hunter, February 1992

Outdoor Life's hunting dog editor, Larry Mueller said in the Introduction of the book: Hopefully Joan Bailey's insight into the dog's first year will at last clarify this important subject...The timely thrust of this book is how to accomplish the amazing things that can be done ONLY while the dog is but a baby...If you have a pup don't put this book aside to read later. --How to help Gun Dogs Train Themselves, page XI

Quail Unlimited Dogs Editor, Stephen C Rafe said: This book is a gem. It shows you how to avoid critical mistakes in your pup's upbringing. It's loaded with good advice including topics often overlooked by other authors. Start your new pup on Joan Bailey's program for socializing and conditioning your pup for its first twelve months and you should have the bird go of your dreams. She knows her subject and her audiences, and matches them up well in a clear, concise book filled with solid guidance and numerous relevant photographs. it's a bargain for any bookshelf. --Quail Unlimited Magazine, July-August 1992, page 76

Great book for pup's all important 1st year
Joan Bailey does a great job of helping inexperienced people understand how to effectively train their own gun dog. Her philospohy is both simple and fun -- basically the owner takes responsibility for exposing a pup to the situations that will allow him to develop his hunting instincts. The rest is up to pup, and Joan assures readers that any well bred hunting pup will quickly begin to develop the traits he was bred to inherit. There is little need for formal training early on, and it seems that if one follow's Joan's outline there will be a very strong bond between owner and pup by the end of the first year. No negative responses or punishments in the critical early months.

A less intense approach, to be sure, but one that will prevent inexperienced trainers from making serious errors that can cause problems down the road. Joan tells readers what to expose pup to, when to do it, and how to go about it. It is a training approach that focuses on encouragement and exposure, leaving readers with the option of additional, more formal training after the first year if desired.

All you need to do is explore some of the internet forums on training hunting dogs (particularly versatile hunting dog forums) and you'll see this book recommended far more frequently than any other. -- Reader, Dallas, TX, USA

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Amazon Price: $21.95 (as of 12/05/2009)

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Gun Dog: Revolutionary Rapid Training Method

by: Richard A. Wolters

Richard Wolters work was recommended to me by a fellow bird hunter. I found the book to be well written and to the point, pardon my pun. I purchased this book in preperation for my first Bird Dog. I tested Mr. Wolters technique on our family dog, a Beagle, and I was able to have her stopping on a dime to "WHOA". And after just ten minutes I was able to get her to Quarter back and forth across a baseball field. I can't wait for my hunting dog to arrive so that I can begin training him for the next hunting season. "Gun Dog" has definitley become my training bible. -- Shawn T. Seim,Seattle, WA, USA

Amazon Price: $17.13 (as of 12/05/2009)

The 10-Minute Retriever: How to Make a Well-Mannered, Obedientand Enthusiastic Gun Dog in 10 Minutes a Day

by: John I. Dahl, Amy Dahl

The 10-Minute Retriever reflects the authors' belief that daily ten-minute training sessions best suit a retriever's attention span and lead to rapid learning. This book is easy to use for the absolute beginner and yet deeply informative for the serious student of retriever training. The text has the information most needed by the owner of a pet retriever: how to make it reliable obedient and well-mannered. It also has the information for which amateur retriever trainers are clamoring: how to force fetch, how to set up tests in the field, and how to use an electric collar humanely and effectively. The emphasis of their training method is on obtaining necessary control and good manners while maximizing the dog's enthusiasm for its work by establishing training situations where the dog desires to cooperate. Primary importance is placed on developing and enhancing the desire to retrieve, from early puppyhood onward. The method presented provides a solid foundation to the dog and owner continuing to advance retrieve training (blind retrieves and competition). Concepts and methods are illustrated with true dog stories. Difference between the major breeds are described and adaptations are given for the different breed personalities.

One of the best!
This book offers the clearest, most detailed description of not only the HOW of basic training of retrievers, but the WHY behind the techniques and the progression.

Many dog training books offer "cookbook" instructions for training a dog, but dogs are living beings, not souffle's, and often times do not follow the manual! An underlying knowledge of WHY the trainer is performing each training step is key to understanding why each step needs to be done correctly, not rushed, and not completed until the dog understands what is being asked. This book offers several different techniques and methods for working a dog through each step, and for dealing with things dogs will do when they don't "follow" the book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone starting out training their first retriever. It's clarity and conciseness are what every person needs when starting out training dogs to retrieve. I have given this book to several friends as gifts, and recommend it personally to many. -- Lisa Van Loo, NY, USA

Amazon Price: $16.66 (as of 12/05/2009)

Scenting on the Wind: Scent Work for Hunting Dogs

by: Susan Bulanda

This book gives us a detailed account of how dogs work and how we might properly train and harness their abilities to serve our needs.

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/05/2009)

Training the Hunting Retriever

by: Jerome B. Robinson

Training the Hunting Retriever is a collection of the most successful training techniques used by some of the best professional hunting-retriever trainers in the country.

These methods are not only used for competition, but also for hunting, and offer fundamental advice such as how to pick a gun-dog pup; how to use electronic training collars; how best to introduce and drill come, sit, and heel commands; and advanced drills including the cross pattern, double cross pattern, and mixed lining and handling.

Here you will learn how to train your dog to turn its head with our gun, so that it will see which bird you are shooting at and mark where the quarry falls. You'll also learn how to steady a retriever without force, how creative fencing can help solve training problems, and how to train retrievers for upland work.

Hunters and trainers return to this classic work year after year for its practical advice. It is a complete guide that will teach beginners to train exceptional retrievers and show experienced gun-dog hunters how to maintain them.

A great tool
've read a half dozen gun dog books over the years and this one is by far the best. Most of the others were written in the 60's and 70's and tend to be pretty corny. The author has compiled techniques from trainers across the country and organizes them in a readable and efficiant manner. He also uses training methods designed for hunting dogs, not trial dogs, and duplicates realistic hunting situations in his training sessions.
This book impressed me so much that I bought a couple copies for two of my hunting partners so that we can all train our pups together using the same methods. -- Fritz L. Vaupel, Seattle, WA, United States

Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 12/05/2009)

Training Your Pointing Dog for Hunting and Home

by: Richard Weaver

Training Your Pointing Dog for Hunting and Home tells how to develop an obedient gun dog that is also an affectionate family companion, with training schedules and advice on everything from handling a newborn pup to teaching advanced field techniques and finely tuned pointing manners. The book presents a simplified, commonsense approach that can be used in its entirety or to troubleshoot individual aspects of your dog s education. Explained is the importance of early obedience training and appropriate transition to the field, including tips for retrieving, quartering, sight pointing, and bird work. With proper care and handling, you can cultivate your pup s natural aptitudes and achieve a rewarding relationship with a healthy, happy gun dog.

The author, Richard Weaver is a professional dog trainer and breeder who lives with his English setters in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

I recommend it
Good, no-nonsense training book for pointing dog owners. Takes you from pup almost thru finished dog. There really aren't any (pointing) dog training books out there like this. I enjoyed it a lot. Easy read. -- E. Thompson

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/05/2009)

Just Dogs: A Literary and Photographic Tribute to the Great Hunting Breeds

My girlfriend and I purchased a chocolate lab in May of 2000. This was my first dog. We searched long and hard and did a lot of research on how to choose the right pup... and we did. I had all intentions of training our new pup to be a champion hunter. I purchased many trainging items and spent many hours to make sure Bailey was going to be ready for the fall pheasant season. As the season grew closer so did the love for my new best friend.

One of my co-workers at the time who also has a hunting a dog (a Llewyen Setter)gave me his copy of "Just Dogs" to read while I was away on buisness. As I started to read the book, I couldn't put it down. After returning home, I ordered my own copy of it. It is probably one of the best bird dog books I have ever read. The more that I read the book the closer I feel to Bailey. He became my best friend the family pet and also a very good hunter. Through out the season Bailey and I were able to bag five birds (with the help of Sadie) which his first two I had mounted as a found reminder of a great day of hunting.

The season has past I am sitting at home with about four feet of snow outside with my boy at my side and the MY copy of "Just Dogs" on my desk. When I get that itch and begin to think about the season to come, I begin to read the book all over again. I have probably ready the book cover to cover about five times since October of 2000. Every time I read the poems, I end up typing one of them up and framing it with a picture of my chocolate hunting partner. I recently purchased a copy of the book for my brother as a birthday present. My brother does not hunt but has two black labs, Coal and Chole, who mean the world to him. After reading "Just Dogs" he says that the book makes him feel even closer to his labs and makes him appreciate the friendship,loyalty and love that only a dog can bring. He thanks me all the time for the book and I have Gary to thank for lending me his copy along with a pheasant season that I will probably never forget.

"Just Dogs" is worth every penny and more!!! You do not need to be a hunter to appreciate this book, you must possess a true love for just dogs. -- John Cowan, United States

Amazon Price: $35.00 (as of 12/05/2009)

Panther: And Other Stories of Great Hunting Retrievers: Original Stories About the Special Bonds Between Man and Dog

The story of Panther, the small Labrador retriever with the big heart, leads off this exciting collection of tales devoted exclusively to hunting retrievers. A diminutive pheasant hunting dog from the Dakotas, Panther rose from obscurity during the late 1940s and early 1950s to become the most consistent winner in field-trial history. His 24 wins and 172 championship points rank him as the best field-trialer of his time. Only one thing eluded him: A national championship.

Seven times, Panther's wins qualified him to run in the nationals, where he was known as the dog to beat. And seven times he fell just short of the national title-twice on technicalities that seemed designed to keep the "outlaw dog from the Wild West" from attaining his rightful prize.

Though Panther never placed first in the nationals, he did eventually earn first place in his irascible owner's heart. And so it is with the other retrievers in this anthology. Each is first in his master's heart, and each inspires a unique story about the special bonds that form between man and dog when engaged in the common pursuit of hunting waterfowl and upland game birds.

Best Dog Stories Ever
My wife gave me this book for my birthday and I was bowled over. The title story made me laugh, cry--and that was only the beginning. The comparison to Seabiscuit is apt. Panther is the definition of an underdog. What a great heart. The other stories, too, were wonderful. I loved John Madson's tale about the Lab Bess, who fetched mallards between giving birth to a whole litter of puppies. And the story of the boy who saved an old duck dog who had fallen through the ice, returning an earlier favor. Ted Lundrigan's story "Trust in Black" was so good it made me look up his other books on Amazon. What a brilliant writer. I don't think I've ever read a more poignant, heart-felt confession about a man's love for retrievers, or any other breeds or individual dogs.

Buy this book for yourself or someone else. It will be one of the best presents you'll ever give or get! -- John Peterson, Michigan, USA

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The Ultimate Hunting Dog Reference Book: A Comprehensive Guide to More than 60 Sporting Breeds

by: Vickie Lamb

Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 12/05/2009)

Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds: A History of Dog Breeds

by: Jeff Crosby, Shelley Ann Jackson

Since prehistoric times, humans and dogs have shared a unique bond and both have served each other well. Early people discarded food and as a result, wild wolves cast fear and caution aside, following and approaching their two-legged neighbors until they became less wary of each other. As humans hunted, fished, herded, and hauled, they found ways to benefit from the presence and talents of these animals. Over time, both learned to work together, rely on, and like each other.

This book is a fascinating look at the distinct groups that have developed - hunting, herding, working, and companion - as humans selectively bred dogs to bring out desired attributes. Stunning illustrations, maps, and fascinating information combine to explain the origins and characteristics of typical breeds within each grouping.

Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds is an indispensable book for any dog lover and a wonderful guide for those about to choose their own canine companion.

Great introduction to dog breeds!
Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson have created an informative and beautiful introduction to dog breeds of the world. The book is filled with interesting facts about many of the popular breeds and great illustrations of the dog breeds. I would recommend this book to parents with kids that are interested in dogs or to adults that are interested in the history of dog breeds around the world. -- Adam, Cedar Park, TX, USA

Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 12/05/2009)

A Hunter's Road: A Journey with Gun and Dog Across the American Uplands (An Owl Book)

by: Jim Fergus

In September 1990 freelance sportswriter Fergus bird-hunted during the opening days of the sage grouse season in Wyoming, blue grouse season in Colorado and chukar season in Idaho. Five months later, this first-time author and his yellow Labrador, Sweetzer, had hunted (and retrieved) 21 species of game birds in 24 states during a 17,000-mile journey recounted here with asides providing recipes for how to cook the various catches. Man and dog tramped in woods and fields, through swamps and deserts; they observed a shoot on a private game ranch and met hunters (and dogs) from all walks of life. Fergus gives a splendid tour of the countryside and a spirited defense of hunting as a sport, sharing his worries about the growth of anti-hunting sentiment and the decline in bird population due to loss of habitat. A fine travel-and-adventure tale, both for hunters and readers who enjoy the outdoors.

A thought-provoking, highly entertaining bird hunting book
As a somewhat novice upland bird hunter with a young dog, and as a writer for a state wildlife management agency, I found a deep appreciation for the observations, sentiments and candid representations of the experiences the author enjoyed while researcing his book.

He details a trip across the United States and all the interesting people and places he visited and came to know as intimately as only a hunter or nature lover could. This book was like a long daydream that I didn't want to end, and I'm greatful he invited me along. I have met so many hunters of the type he writes about - some good, some bad and some who just "are."

He at times reports objectively about their attitudes and other times makes judgements that I may or may not agree with, but it was always entertaining and was food for thought.

This is not a book that will teach you where or how to hunt, but it will teach you about why you hunt and what is happening to the hunt. We would do well to think about his words as we enter the 21st Century.

Amazon Price: $14.53 (as of 12/05/2009)

Combat Tracker and Tracker Dog Training and Employment (FM 7-42)

by: U.S. Government

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A review of the military dog program (CORG memorandum)

by: Allen K McIntosh

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